October 20 God’s Word

John 3:19-21 “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”
 
WE can become content in God’s Word, can’t we? In other words, we can read it with little consideration of its wonder, power and authority. Even here, as Jesus speaks of light and darkness, good versus evil, we have heard such teachings so often, we think, “I’ve heard that. I believe it.”
   But do we truly hear God’s Word here? John 3 is Jesus talking. Remember, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” (John 1:1-3) We are reading the recorded words of our eternal God, Creator and Truth. “This is the verdict.” is not an indication of possible ideas to consider, but they are words that direct you to the Living Word’s absolute Truth. Everything he says has life-ending and life-forming authority. We must pay attention.
   Yes, “This is the verdict.” Indicates the Judge is speaking. Darkness is evil’s blanket. It covers our sin and shame. We hide in the shadows for fear that the Lord will see and others will know. We darkly deny wrong exists in our lives. We cannot bear the thought of being less than what God intends. Darkness keeps our soul from confession and submission. Out of the light we compromise what is right.
   In his love then, the Living Word has come to remove the dark. Jesus is preparing the world for the day he will come as the Son of Man to judge the earth. On that day, his light will expose all dark deeds of unrepentant souls.
   In contrast, whoever lives in the truth comes into the light. The faithful who confess, “I have sinned. Forgive me, Lord.” The Living Word will honor his faithful the saints – the true church – who have lived in Jesus’ true light. They will testify of the Lord’s salvation, so it “may be seen plainly that what (they have) done has been done through God”.
   We – God’s creation – have the great privilege to hear from the Living Word. I pray we open our Bibles with anticipation to hear the Lord’s holy teaching. May we honor God’s Word to consider it a privilege to receive the Light to mark our paths each day.
   This is about now. This is about forever. Pay attention and live.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for sending the Living Word to earth. I treasure the privilege of hearing you each time I open Scripture. Amen.